Process and device for printing multicolor partial pictures on lenticular films



Y 1934. G. HEYMER 1,968,1 45

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING MULTICOLOR PARTIAL PICTURES QN LENTICULAR FILMS Filed Dec. 8, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 177/77 sqopor/ /7//77 ase en uls'ivn {ayer W In van for July 31, 1934. G. HEYMER 1968145 PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING MULTICOLOR PARTIAL PICTURES ON LENTICULAR FILMS Filed Dec. 8. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 By Aforney July 31, 1934. G. HEYMER 1968145 PRQCESS AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING MULTICOLOR PARTIAL PICTURES ON LEN'IICULAR FILMS Filed Dec. 8, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In ven for Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED Gerrit Heymer, iessarr,

Germany, assigncr te Application lvecemlrer 193i, Se-rial N= 579,743

My present invention relates te printing of multi-color partial pictures on lenticular films.

One of its objects is to provicie a process for contact printing of multi-cclor partial pictures on lentcular films, A11 additional object is the device for the purpose set orth. Further objects will be seen from the detailecl speciiiczation rollowing hereafter.

My process consists in placing the corresponding partial color records of a multi-color picture taken en ordinary film (that is to say, the partial c010r records whicl1 together form a group containing all the color sensaticns required for pro= ducing a single picture in colors), one aiter the ether on the sicle of the lenticular film hearing the enticular elements in exactly the same position and illuminating the pictures from this sice the direction o incidence of the lig t eing altereci so that it is different in the case of each one c a group of ccrresponding partial cclcr records, ancl care loeing taken that the corresponcing pic-= tures 0 each group 0 pictures are projectecl en the same picture place of the ienticular film.

For'thispurpcse it is necessary to provide the printing apparatus with catches whic'n engage the perforatons of the film to be printeci ancl those of the lenticular film, whereby it becomes possibie to register each one of a group of correspcnciing partial pictures of the film tc ice printecl one after the ether on one and the same area 01" the lenticular film. n printing cinematograploic picture bands, the perforation or this purpose is already avalable. I single pictures taken in an ordinary photographic apparatus are te be printed on a printing material l1aving lenticular embossings, the partial color sensations anti the printing material have to be proviciecl vvita cuts or perforations whch corresponcl exacty with one another ancl must be made to register during the printing operation. Ii requireri t'ne pericrations may be replacecl in lmcwn manner ioy indentations.

'I'he printing lght is s upplied by a special illuminating device provdecl e ither with incanclescent lamps or illuminatecl discs of rosted glass of a determinecl brearith. The breadth depends upon the form of the ienticular embossings of the printing material ancl upon the kind of objective vvhich serves for the projection of the printecl picture ancl corresponds to the breadth of: one area of the multi-cclor filter, or the virtual image thereof, which is to be used in the projecting operation.

If the refracting elements of the printing rnaterial consist, as usual, of parallel cylinciricai lenses, the dmensions of the several sources o light of the illuminating system in the direction parallel to the cylinclrical lenses must be kept as small as possible, whereas the dimensions in the direction perpenclicular to the lenticular elements (that is the breadth) are determined as aioresaicl. 'Ihe dimension of the source of light in a, direction perpendicular to that of the lenticu- 1ar elements depends upon the propertes c the objective with which the print to be producec is to be projected. 'I'he distances of the optical een tres of the difierent sources of light from one another and from the picture window of the printing device should be as nearly as possible equal to the distances of the optical centres of the color stripes of the virtual image of the mul t-color filter rom one another anol from the ienticular film during the prcjction. An exact observation of these conditions will, however, only be possible in some special cases, because the projecton objectives in use have varying ocal iengths, and because it is important tlcat the print should be applicable, if possible, in all projection apparatus that enter into consicleratien. For these reasons the said conditions are uiiilleci onlv approximately, by equalizing as much as possibie the aforesaicl distances, while printing anzi projecting. Experience has shown that aiso in this case a very satsactory reproduction or rendering of the colors is obtainecl.

It is advantageous either to choose or the distances indicated mean values, or to take the greatest 0 the values in question for the distance of the vrtual filter image rom the film and the smallest vaiue or the distances between the optica centres of the stripes of the projection filter, and to determine the size of the 11- lurninating device accordingly. If there are greater ciierences in the focal lengths and apertures of the projecton objectives intencled to toe used for purpcses of reproduction the seconci of the two methods indicated is followec1. If films printed in this manner are -to oe projected by means of projection apparatus of differing sizes, it is necessary to ulfill the conditions underlying the printing operation as to the distance anti the breadth of the filter, by suitab ly adjusting the optcal rneans in the projection apparatus, in a marmer analogous to that shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawngs.

For the distance of the virtual filter image during the projection if desirecl, there aan toe adopted. the value it is not possible to arrange the several sources of light of the illuminating device within a sufciently narrow space, there can be intercalate: between the film and the illuminating devices lenses which project the virtual images of the sources of light at the required distances.

'Ihe dimension of the several sources of llght in the directions perpendicularly to the lenticular elements is chosen so that the source of light corrsponding with one partial color has at most only the dimension of the corresponding partial color of the multi-color to be employed during the projection. t is, hwever, advantageous that the sources of light be smaller in dimensions, or instance, punctiforrn, and that they loe placed in the optical centres of the areas in question. It is advisable to arrange the sources of light in a movable manner so that. the whole system aan rapidly and simply be adapted to any alteration of the conditions.

It is also possible to use an illuminating device consisting only of a single source of light which is movable in such a marmer that it takes suc cessively the position ofeach of the sources of light of the illuminating device above described.

'Ihe intensity of the illumination is -controlled in known marmer loy inserting resistances in the lighting current, intercalating media adsorbing light such as greyfilters, color filters, wire nets, or the like in the path of the beams or masking the lumineus planes of the several sources of ligl1t.

According to the process of the invention there can be printed negatves as well as postives onto lenticular film. In order to obtain a print which is not laterally inverted, it is necessary that the negative should be placed on the printing material with its back side next the lenticular elernents thereof, and that the positive is placed on the printing material with its layer side next the lenticular elements. If it is desired that also in printing a negative the layer side thereof should be placed on the embossed side of the printing material, in whioh case a laterally inverted picture would result, it is necessary either, during the photographing of the negative, to expose the light-sensitive layer thru the support or 1 to insert one of the known systems for inverting pictures, or, during the projection; to use a sys-= tem or inverting pictures or to view the projected picture irom loehindthe projection sereen.

If the lenticular elements of the printing material are chosen so that the picture elements, projected. by the different lenticular elements in the senstive layer, are not directly contiguous,

but are separated from one another by empty spaces, it is necessary, in order to prevent the colors from whitening, additionally to illuminate each picture area either prior to or dwing or after printing the partial color pictures of a group, by means of lumineus stripes runnng parallel to the direction of the lenticular ernbossing. Bythis additional illumination the unexposed parts lying between the single pictures of the lenticular film are blackned. 'Ihe disbe printed, intermediate positives on a film having no lentcular elements, to print these positives on the lenticular film with their layer side next to the lenticular embossing, and to develop the latent picture produced on the lenticular film, to a positive according to the lmown reversal method. 'llhis arrangement is more avorable for the sharpness of the print, since the layer side is turned towards the lenticular embossing and the additional illumination above referred to by means of the source of light consisting of several stripes is no longer necesasry, since all unexposed parts which may be present between the single pictures, have already been blackened by the reversal method.

It is advisable to produoe the intermediate positives on a film having a very fiat gradation and to dye the emulsion layer of the lenticular film with an inactinic, that is, a dyestuff which has no sensitizing effect on the silver halide emulsion for instance, a yellow filter dyestuff, in order to maintain the resolving power as high as possible.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically an arrangement as used in projecting a lenticular film,

Fig. 2 represents a. multi-color filter used in projecting a lenticular film, showing at the Same time a slit used for the exposure in the printing operation,

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the printing of the red sensation,

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the printing o. the green sensation,

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the exposure of the unexposed parts between the partial pictures which lie behind the lenticular elements,

Fig. (5 illustrates diagrammatically an illumi" nating device,

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically another form of an illurninating device,

Fig. 8 represents diagra tically an arrangement used if the available length of the copying machine is smaller than the distance of the virtual image of the rrrulti-color filter from the lenticular film,

Fig. 9 represents diagrammatically a perspective view of an arrangement tor printing according to this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 A is the lenticular film, B the objective and C the multi-color filter used when projecting the lenticlar film. When viewing the filter C from the lentienlar film. A thru the objective B, the filter itselr" cannot loe seen, lont its virtual image is seen at D. The multi-eolor filter may consist of three parallel stripes, a red stripe, a green stripe and a blue stripe, the virtual image D of the multicolor filter will be the basis for the further explanations, since as will be seen irom. the descriptibnthis virtual image indicates the place at which the source of light should be placed in my printing process.

Fig. 2 represents the multi-color filter used in projecting the lenticular film hearing the print and consisting of three parallel stripes. la." is the slt or" the diaphragm R shown in Fig. 3. In order to obtain a sharp print this 'slit is made as small as possilole.

1 ig. 3 illustrates digrammatically the first step inthe printing operation. 'lthe positive film F bearing a positive made from a negative to be copied is advantageously placeol with the side hearing the image in contact with the lenticular film A. The reproduction of the positive film hearing, in the present case, the red color sensation of the picture is eflectecl by a distinct arrangement and by a distinct size of the diaphragm R provided with a slit, and placeol at a distance from the film A corresponding to that of the virtual image of the multi-color filter in taking a picture on a lenticular film. "ihe distance AD therefore oorresponds to the distance AD in Fig. 1. Owing to the lenticular elements of the lenticular film the opening E (sec Fig. 2) of the diaphragm R is copiecl at the places 1, the luminosity in copying being determined by the brightness of the partial color positive F.

Fig. 4 represents dagrammatically the printing of the green extract of the picture. For this step the diaphragm must be inserted at G corresponcling to the green area of the virtual image D of the multi-color filter. The single points of the picture are copied on the lenticular film A at g.

In a completely analogous marmer the blue color sensation may be printed upon the lenticu- Fig. 5 represents diagrammatically the process of exposing the spaces which may remain unexposed inthe printing operations. H1 is the breadth of the virtualimage D (of. Fig. 1) of themulti-color filter or more correctly, the breadth of the diaphragm placed at HJ thru which the exposure is made in the printing operation. On examination of the real pictures registered on the emulsion layer of the lenticular film A, it may be found that spaces W remain on which no light has fallen. After development these spaces are transparent and may cause a whitening of the colors in reproduction. In order to avoid this dzawback, adjacent to each side of the virtual image D 0 the multi-color filter there is provided a slit for llumination which is made so broad in the direction perpendicular to the lenticular elements that the real images of the slits prcjected on the layer of the lenticular film touch each other as shown in Fig. 5 or slightly overlap. This method is, however, only used for lentcular films which are not developed according to the reversal process.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatcally a source of light which may replace the diaphragm R (of. Fig. 3) provided with a slit. The source of light is an incanclescent lamp having a wire spiral KLMN which corresponds in length to the virtual image 13 (of. Fig. 1) of the multi-color filter. 'I'he points L and M correspond to the lines separating the three color strpes of the multi-color mter. Tne electric connections in the lamp are such that each of the three parts KL, LM and MN of the wire spiral can be switched on or ofi at will and that only that part of the wire is illumnated which is wanted for copying the actual partial color negative.

Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically another mode of illumination. The source of light is an incandescent lamp provided with a; single wire spiral having a length OP corresponding to the breadth of one area of the virtual image D (cf.'

Fig. 1) of the multi-color filter. The' lamp can be displabed laterall3 so that it illuminates the desired section, the sections corresponding to the parts KL, LM and MN of Fig. 5. The lamp is fixed in the different positions for illuminating each section by a lever Q having a ratchet Y which engages projecting bosses S1,- S2 and S3 mounted on a fixecl base.

posed in the same marmer as if the source of light itself were at T1U1.

In Fig. 9, which shows dagrammatically a perspective view of an arrangement for printng according to this invention, the lenticular film 1 and the ordinary film 2 are guided in contact thru the gate 3 having an aperture 4. The films are advancecl together by the sprocket drum 5 of the intermittent film eeding device. The wall 6 prevents other light than that wanted for the printing operation from striking the films to be printed. In the wall 6 there are provided discs 7, 8, and 9 of frosted glass which may be illuminated by the incandescent lamp 10. These discs are arranged at a distance and position from the lenticular film corresponding to that ofthe areas of the multi-color filter (in the present case a three-color filter) or the virtual image thereof, to be used in projecting the lenticular film. Each partial color sensation record is printed with another dsc, the remaining discs being masked. In Fg. 9 there is shown the way of the light rays coming-from disc 7 by the dotted lines 12, the two other discs 8 and 9 being masked by the shutter What I claim is:-

1. A process of printing on a lenticular filmby contact partial color sensation records taken on ordinary film which comprises placing said partial color records corresponding with one another, one after the other in exactly the same position on the side of the lenticular elements of said lentieular film, illuminating said films from the side of the lenticular elements oy means of a source of light positioned at a distance from the lenticular film corresponding to that of the multi-color filter to be used in projection or its virtual image anclhaving a breadth correspondng to that of one color area of said multi-colr filter or its virtual image and. altering the direction of incidence of the light for printing each of said partal color records.

2. A process of printing on a lenticular film by contact partial color sensation records taken on ordinary film which compriscs placing said partial color records corresponding with one another, one after the other With their rear side in exactly the same position on the side of the lenticular elements of said lenticular film, illuminating said films from the side of the lenticular 1 by contact partial color sensation records taken on ordinary film which comprises placing said partial color records corresponcling with one another, one after the other Wth their rear side in exactly the same position on the side of the lenticular elements of said lenticular film, illuminating said films from the side of the lentcular elements by means of a source of light positioned at a distance from the lenticular film corresponding to that of the multi-color filter to be used in projection or its virtual image and having a breadth corresponding to that of one color area of said multi-color filter or its virtual image and altering the direction of incidence of the light for printing each of said partial color ree ords, and illuminating nnexposed parts between 15 Toelfindl tlre difierent 4. A process of printing en e lenticular by contact partial color sensotion records taken on ordinory filmwhich comprises procl1rcing on 01- olinery film positives trom partiol color rregetives, placing seicl positive portial color records corresponding with one another, one oter the other with their layer side in exactly the serne position on the side of the lentculor elements of saic lenticular illuminating seid films 'rom the side of the lenticuler elements loy meens of a source of lght positioneol at a distance from the lenticulor film corresponding to thet ol the multicolor filter to be used in projectlorr er its viitual image and heving e, breedth correseonding to thc.t of one c01c1 area of seid multi-color filter or its virtual image end. altering the direction of nciolence of the light for printing eech of soicl portia.l color records, oncl illumineting unexposed parts betweer the pertiol pictures lying loel1incl tl1e different lenticular elements.

5. A process of orinting orl e lenticulor film loy contact portal color" sensetion records taken en ordinary film. which compriees proclueing on ordinory film heving e, fiat grerletion posltives from partiol color negatives, plecing se.icl positive pertial color records corresponding with one another, one alter the ether with tlreir loyer sie:2.e in exoctly the seme position en tl1e side of the len ticula r elements of seicl leriticuler film, lllwnimxt ing seicl films from the sicle of the lenticulor elements loy meons o e. source of licht postionecl et a. distoncefrom tlie lenticuler film correspcncling to thet o the multicolor filter to be nsec'l in projection or its virtual image end hoving e loreedtlr corresponding to that of one color area, of saicl multi-color filter or its vir'tucl image end elter== ing the direction of incidence of tlre liglit lor printng each of seicl partiel color' records, etncl illumineting unexposeel ports loetween tl1e per tial pictures lying loel1lncl tlie difiererrt lenticuler elements.

6. A process of printing om 21 lenticulor film loy contact portiel color sensetion records teken en ordinory film. vvhiclr comprises ploeing seicl pertial color records corresponcling wlth ene en otl1er, one efter tloe otlrer in er:ectly the some po sition ontl1e side of the lenticuler elements o. soicl lentiuler film, illnating seiol films front tlre siole of the lenticrrler elements loy ineens of e source of liglrt positionezl ot e distence from the lenticulor film correspondifig to the meen value of the distence of the dierent multi=coloi filters or the virtual images thereo to loe used in projecting the lenticulor film, romseicl film i objectives of vorying focol length ere te loe employeol in projection, end hawing o, loreeolth ecme.l to the meen witte of the loreoltlrs of one color area, of tlre difierent multi-eolor filters, or the virtuol imeges thereoi, ano1 eltering tl1e directonce of the different mult-color filters, or the virtuol images thereof, to loe used in projecting the lenticulor film, from seid if objectlves of voryng ocatl lengtlr are to be employed in projecton, end. having a breadth equol to the narrowest breacltln. of one color area, of the difierent multi-color filters, or the virtual images thereof, end o,ltering the direction of incidence of the liglit for printing each of sed partiel color recorols.

8. In 211 epparatus for printing om a lenticular film by contact partial color sensotion records tolken on ordinery film in operative combination, means or guicling a, lenticular film end. e, smooth film in contact, end meens or illuminoting said films from a dstonce encl postion corresponding to the clistance end. position of thot filter area. of the multi-color filter or its virtuel image to be used in projecting tne film, whch loos the color of tl1e sensation to be printed.

9. In en apparatus for printing on a. lenticular film. loy contact portial color sensotion records teken on ordnary filrn in opera.tive combination. meons or goiding a lenticular film. end. a. srnootlr film in contact, and. on illumnating device oomprising a, number of sources of liglit whcl1 nu.m loer correspcnds to that of the erees of the multl color filter 'usecl in 'the projection of the lerrticulor film, seid. sources of light loeing individuelly controllelole amcl adaptedl to the oreoclth of the multi-color filter or the virtuol image thereof to Zee usecl in projecting the ler 1ticular film, tlae distences of tlre sources of liglrt trom eoch ether encl the lenticular film. loeing equol to tlre eis tonces of time arees of the multi-color filter or tl1e virtucl image thereo to loe usecl in projecting tlre lenticular film, from each other end. tlre lentlculor film,

lil. in en opporetus or prnting en. e lenticu-= lor film cy contact partiel color sensotion records taken en ordinary film in operative combinetlon, meeins or guiding e lenticular film encl 2, smootlo. film in contact, en illuminating device commising one single source of light corresponding in oreedth to one area of the rrrulti-color filter or tlre Virtuel image tlrereof to loe usecl in projecting tl1e lenticulor film, enol meons allowing to ploce the source of llglcit successively in different pleces lll5 lll

ct:orrespcnzling in distonce end. position to these of the erees of the mlti-color filter or the virtuol image tlrereo to loe used in projecting tlrre lenticuler filnn H. 111 en opporetus for printing en e, lentlculei film cy contact pertiol color Sensation records teken en ordinery in operetive combination, rneens for guiciing e lenticula.r filrn and. a. smooth film in contact, en 1111 r. device compris-= ing e numloer of sources of lightwhich nunnber corresponols to tlrot of the oreos of the' multicolor filter to be useol in -the prcljection of the lenticulor film, end. loetween the lenticular film oncl tlre sources of lglit en optica]. ineens coopereting with sool illuminating device so as to project e virtuel image of th .e sources of light to places vrloich corresponcl in distance enol posi" tion to those of the areos of the multi-color filter or the virtuol image tlxereor" te te useol in projecting tl1e lenticular film.

12. ln en opporetus for printing en e lenticuler film by contact partal color sensotion records teken on ordinary film in operatlve combination, meens fcr guidling s. lenticular film ez.ncl o smooth in contact, end. en illoting device comprising e numloer of sources of llght wliich numloer correspomis to thot of the ereos of tlre multi- 00101 filter to be used in the projection of the lenticular film, said llumnating device being arranged at a, dstance from the lentcular film smaller than that of the mult-color filter or the vrtual image thereof the lentcular film rm the lentcular film and to be used. in projecting said film, and between the sources of 1ight 25 

